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Jewish Family Service details jail discharge planning contract, reports thousands of annual contacts
Summary
Jewish Family Service told Atlantic County commissioners it provides jail discharge planning and reentry services that produced about 3,719 contacts last year, 276 completed reentry plans and 221 completed admissions intakes; presenters described coordination with courts and community agencies and requested continued county support.
Jewish Family Service outlined to Atlantic County commissioners how its county-funded discharge planning and reentry contract works and described the program’s scope and outcomes.
Andrea Steinberg, CEO of Jewish Family Service, told the board the agency “is helping 15,000 people throughout Atlantic County” and employs “about 180 people” across eight offices; the agency is opening an eighth office at 6821 Black Horse Pike, she said. The presentation focused on two program tracks: three admissions clinicians who perform quick intake assessments, and a reentry team for people in custody 90 days or more.
Nina Stolzenberg, senior director of vocational and justice-involved services, said the reentry work targets factors that drive recidivism — mental health, substance use, unstable housing and lack of employment — and that the program also works with families and offers parenting classes that can restore visiting privileges. “We’re trying to address the root causes of justice involvement,” she said.
Ayanna James, introduced by Steinberg as the director of justice-involved services, described the intake and reentry process. “We have 3 clinicians” who conduct intake assessments, James said, and a reentry team of a supervisor and three caseworkers who specialize in vocational training, GED and parenting classes. She described “soft handoffs” to community case managers so people leaving the jail arrive connected to services.
Program metrics were presented during a commissioner question-and-answer period: the presenters said there were more than 3,400 touch points in the prior year, 3,719 contacts for the year, 276 completed discharge plans for individuals who remained long enough to receive full reentry planning, and 221 completed admissions intakes. Commissioners asked about referral pathways; presenters said referrals come partly from municipal courts and partly from self-referral in the jail pods. Financial literacy and job services are offered through the vocational program, presenters said. On tracking, Stolzenberg said participants engaged in mental-health justice services are typically followed for up to a year, though some remain connected longer or are referred to other agencies.
Presenters gave concrete examples: one 45-year-old client with mental-health needs was connected from the jail to community case management, was linked to services and housing, and later entered long-term supportive care; another client worked with a job coach, regained employment and returned to school through grant-supported funding.
No formal board action was taken at the presentation. JFS left a one-page program description and 2025 statistics for commissioners. The presentation concluded with commissioners thanking the agency and noting the value of coordination with the jail and external partners.
